, 1887-07-02
PROBING INTO SECRETS
Closing Session of the Railroad
Commission at Omaha.
An Editor Gives Some Points on
Political Interference.
Too Low Estimates of Expenses
Causes a Resignation.
Editor Rosewater on the Stand.

OMAHA, Neb., July Before the Pa
cific railway investigating commission to-
day Edward Ro5ewater, editor of the
Omaha Bee, testified that it has been for
years the practice of the United States
marshal of Nebraska and his deputies to
travel on free passes over the Union Pa
cific railroad and to charge the govern
ment 10 cents a mile for every mile so
travelled.
Commissioner Littler asked the witness
if he did not know that the marshal had
to swear to his accounts when rendered
and that he had to swear that no portion
of the trips charged for were made by
free passes.
Witness did not know how that was.
but he knew that passes were used. He
had himself seen a deputy United States
marshal travelling on such a pass, from
whom he learned that the deputy had to
share with the marshal for the travelling
tees allowed by the government for just
such trips. The court officers generally
in Nebraska, MIR Rosewater added, have
always shown great subservience to the
railroad power. He produced a copy of
the election telegram alluded to in his
testimony given some days ago before the
commission. The telegram is from the
general attorney of the Union Pacific COM
pany to its general manager and assist
ant general manager, and reads as fol.
lows:
OMAHA, Oct. ID. 1S73.-To s. II
e. CIdrk:-The vote of the shops will
probably decide the election and it is said
it will go against Grebe for sheriff. He
has served the road better than any sheriff
we ever had. Cant you give this vote ?
| think you should, if possible. If you
agree. instruct the proper parties to give
hun the vote, and send me a copy of your
telegram.
fSlgned "a. J. PoPPLEToN."
Mr.. Poppleton explained that his
course in sending the telegram had been
dictated by the fact that passengers on
the Union Pacific company's trains had
been persistently robbed by three card
monte men. and the man Grebe referred
to in the dispatch was the only man
found to be abe TO handle the gamblers.
Peter A. Dey, one Of the railroad com
missioners OF the UniCn Pacific road, in
answer to a question by Governor Patti
son, testified that the promoters of the
Union Pacific road employed him in 1862
TO survey and estimate on the cost OF the
proposed road. When he gave an esti
WdIc VI SoO,'OO u mle lOT llt uTSI NV
miles he was directed from headquarters
to increase the amount 10 $50. 0OO a mile
30 as to make it appear that the road was
an expensive one To build. From b de
clination to comply with this demand his
resignation came out. He believed now
the entire road could be paralleled for
$25 900 per mile.
A number OF other witnesses we're ex-
amined without e%liciting anything OF ma
terlal Importance.
A letter was received from Guy G.
Barton, president Of the Omaha and
Grant Smelling & Refining company Of
Omaha, in compliance with the request of
the commission, showing that the total
amount OF rebates and overcharges paid
to that company by the Union Pacific
from Sept. l. 1888, to April |. 1887, was
$570.1l2, and that the total amount OF
dividends paid Fred Il. Ames and Sidney
Dillon from the smelling company during
the same period was $50. 800 each.
This closed the sessions of the commits
sion at Omaha. Its members will make
an inspection of the Union Pacific road
and branches to ascertain the relations OF
the road to the communities through
which il passes.